The Vampire Diaries 5.10 Review: Revelations About Where We Stand

For any of those that have yet to watch Thursday night’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, entitled ‘Fifty Shades of Grayson’, this is the only warning you will get from me before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Let me just begin this review by stating that I am of the mind that this series has not been great since the second season, and it has not been good since season three. Season four was okay, but season five is shaping up to be terrible. Honestly, this episode was awful. There was so much potential set up last week, with Enzo being on the other table, and then he’s basically nothing in this week’s episode. And Katherine, she is just beyond disappointing this season, with her daughter coming into things and this whole mortality business. I almost wish it was back to her popping in every now and again, because she is just being ruined with everything this season.

Also, what is it with, whenever couples that are together offscreen break up, they always have to ruin that couple and break them up onscreen? It happened on One Tree Hill with Brooke and Lucas (although I was of the mind that he should be with Peyton, but it was terribly written with the offscreen couple onscreen), and now it seems to have happened here. I was so happy last season when Elena chose Damon, but they really should have ended this series there, because there wasn’t anymore that could be told. And now, they’ve actually got me wanting her with Stefan, the two have far more chemistry with each other than Elena and Damon do now. It’s bothersome that Somerhaulder and Dobrev breaking up can influence the telling of this series so heavily.

Basically, I’m finding this series very disappointing this year, much to the same affect as The Originals has become. Is it because the showrunner is having to split time between the two? If that’s the case, there really should be two showrunners. I know that my TV series idea is like my baby, there’s no way I wouldn’t put my whole heart into taking care of it. Honestly, this season is just such a mess. The whole Silas situation had to be resolved, and then we get this terribly done Augustine business. What the hell is this series problem? It used to be a pretty good series, but it hasn’t been that in a very long time. I mean, Damon breaking up with Elena MAKES NO SENSE!

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I’m gonna barf.” – Damon remarks.

“Or he’s in front of me, imagining what my kidney would taste like.” – Aaron tells his legal guardian.

“Well, you didn’t die, obviously.” – Stefan states, concerning Enzo.

Okay, that’s probably going to be it for about an hour, I have to go order my father’s Christmas gift, and thus I need to find it again. Check back later for my reviews of Grey’s Anatomy and Haven. By that, I am saying I am no longer reviewing Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, unless I get to it in a few days.

Best Performances of the Week: American Horror Story: Coven's Lily Rabe and The Vampire Diaries' Matt Donovan

Welcome to the fifth edition of Best Male and Female Performances of the Week. This is a weekly update that will occur, for the most part, on Thursday’s – or shortly thereafter – once I’ve finished watching and reviewing the past week’s worth of episodes, where I will single out one male and one female performance that I believe merits special attention for the week. This, like my reviews, will be based solely on my opinion of the shows I watch in a week, and if you don’t like who I’ve picked, well that’s your problem, isn’t it?

This week my choices came out of a pot of nineteen series’ (and if you don’t know which, go check out my reviews from the last week). For any not caught up in American Horror Story: Coven and The Vampire Diaries, please feel free to exit promptly from this blog. I am not a spoiler free source for shows. THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Best Female Performance of the Week:

Lily Rabe as Misty Day in this week’s second episode of the third season of American Horror Story: Coven. While there were a few other notable female performances this week, Lily Rabe ultimately won the coveted spot for me. Even though this season of the series is not living up to my expectations, or anywhere near as good as the first season, this woman’s performance of her character was a step above all of the other actors on this series, including the wonderful Jessica Lange.

Rabe’s portrayal this week as the witch Misty Day was mesmerizing. As I said in my review of the episode, I was absolutely enamored with the character as she sung along to Stevie Nixx. The way she was able to so completely capture the vulnerability of her character, desperate to have someone like herself around, to be accepted, it was just beautiful. She stole the show, merely gracing us with her presence because she sees fit.

Having watched Lily Rabe jump from season to season, role to role, she is an amazing actress. She has been able to play gold-digging 1920’s housewife, Satan possessed nun, and now a vulnerable lover of life witch. While I cannot recall having ever seen her elsewhere from this show, she is the daughter of Jill Clayburgh, so talent must run in her veins. Just from evidence of this series, she deserves a long, fulfilling career, and I’m excited to see more of her in the future.

Best Male Performance of the Week:

Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan in this week’s third episode of the fifth season of The Vampire Diaries. While this seemed to have been a slow week for astounding male performances, Zach Roerig was able to shine through. This series may have grown tiresome and repetitive, but there are some things that keep me watching, and Roerig’s performance this week was one of them.

Some may question why I picked Roerig for Best Male Performance this week, and I can point you to one exact moment in this episode to dispute your confusion. A traveller, otherwise known as a gypsy, is thrust into Matt’s mind – I suppose – and for a time takes over his body. Roerig’s portrayal of Gregor in Matt’s body was so convincing it sounded like it was almost dubbed over his own voice. The anger he was able to expel in that moment was gripping.

I have yet to see this young actor – okay, he’s seven years older than I am, he’s still young – outside of this series, I do think he has the possibility for great talent. The writing is not always there in The Vampire Diaries, but he does seem to be able to make the best of what he’s given. I’ll definitely feel the need to check out a role or two outside of the character of Matt Donovan to see how well this man can act.

This lateness thing seems to be a bit of a habit when it comes to this post. So, I apologize for not having this out two days ago, but I really needed yesterday as a break. I’m going to off and watch Haven now, and hopefully have that review up in about an hour, hour and a half. Stay tuned.